Watch CBS News

MOVE: 30 Years Later, Part 2

By Pat Loeb

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The morning of May 13, 1985 began with a hail of gunfire on a street in West Philadelphia. Before the day was over, 11 people were dead and three blocks of houses were reduced to ash and rubble. It was the infamous MOVE confrontation. Three decades later, the events of the day still astonish and sting.

"Police officers have started an offensive against the MOVE headquarters in West Philadelphia."

The siege on 6221 Osage Avenue began at dawn. Neighbors had been evacuated, 500 police officers had assembled. Then-mayor Wilson Goode promised swift action.

"We intend to evict from the house," Goode said. "We intend to evacuate from the house and we intend to seize control of the house. We will do it by any means necessary."

The plan was to drive MOVE members out of the house with water and tear gas, but it quickly devolved into a shootout.

Both sides were heavily armed. Police reported using 10,000 rounds of ammunition in 90 minutes. Tony Hanson was on the scene for KYW Newsradio.

"Sustained fire has been going on now for three minutes or so," Hanson reported. "Police are returning gunfire."

With bullets flying, police options narrowed. Then-Commissioner Gregore Sambor focused on a bunker on the roof of the house, deciding -- as he later testified -- he could regain control of the situation if he could destroy it.

Requests to interview the key decision-makers about what happened next were turned down, but one conceded it was horribly botched. And so it was that the Philadelphia police dropped a bomb on its own city.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.